Primary choice — Republican or Democrat?

Lambertville resident Tom Redmond understands that voters in Bedford Township will have a tough decision to make on the Aug. 7 primary election.

Mr. Redmond, a Democrat, is running for Monroe County sherriff. He is facing Democratic challengers Dale Malone and Charles Harrington. Jan Jay is the only Republican candidate.

But if Bedford voters want to choose the people will operate the township for the next four years, they’ll have to make a choice when they get in the voting booth — Democrat or Republican?

The races for Bedford Township offices are on the Republican side of the ticket.

In Michigan, voters don’t have to declare a party preference, but they can’t split their tickets. They either have to vote only for Democrats or only for Republicans. They can’t vote across party lines.

Top winners move on to the Nov. 6 general election, where voters are allowed to cross party lines.

The single-party primary election is a quandary for many residents, as the Bedford situation illustrates.

“It’s a straight ticket and hot contests,” Mr. Redmond said. “We’re not sure if the Bedford races will take away votes for the Democratic sheriff’s candidates, but we are hoping for enough support.”

Voters in Ida are facing a similar situation since they can choose to vote for two Republican clerk candidates — incumbent Donald Appleman or Denise Horner — or for the Democratic sheriff’s candidates.

The winner of the Bedford Township supervisor, clerk and treasurer races will practically be determined during the primary since candidates for those positions are Republicans. The winners will move on to November, but no Democratic challengers await them.

Eight trustee candidates also are Republicans, and that race will narrow to the top four vote-getters who will face two Democrats in the fall. The top four vote-getters in November will become township trustees.

All voters will be able to select Monroe County judges, who run nonpartisan, and vote on the issues, including tax renewals for police and fire, Lake Erie Transit and other countywide tax proposals.

“The primary race is specifically for the people of a particular party to determine who they want in their party to move forward to the general election,” said Sharon Lemasters, Monroe County clerk.

In some states, voters have to openly declare a party, but in Michigan, voters are given a ballot and can determine which party they want to vote for in private.

“You can keep the party private, but you have to stay on one side of the ballot or another,” Mrs. Lemasters said. “You can’t split the ticket.”

The clerk said her office has received complaints from voters.

“For one particular reason or another, one office is more important to some voters than others,” she said. “I heard the complaints when I was a township clerk, too.”

Mr. Redmond said on a personal level he believes voters should be able to vote for whomever they want.

“They should be able to vote across party lines for the best candidate for the job,” he said. “They shouldn’t have to have their hands tied.”

Bedford Supervisor Walt Wilburn is facing Greg Stewart in his race. Political newcomer Laura Collins is facing township Trustee Paul Francis for treasurer, while Trustee Gail Hauser-Hurley, a former county commissioner, is challenging Trudy Hershberger for clerk.

Mr. Wilburn said the primary election will be interesting.

“I think the people here, because of the top township jobs, will go more for that side,” he said. “If you want the input on your supervisor, treasurer and clerk, you’re going to pick that.”

He also said voters, whether at a primary or not, should be able to pick whomever they want to vote for across the board.

“Personally, you should not have to choose a party,” Mr. Wilburn said. “You should vote for who you want to vote for.”

County Commissioner R. LaMar Frederick of Bedford Township is all too familiar with the circumstances facing this year’s primary. In 1996, he was squaring off against incumbent Pearl Albert-Green for Bedford supervisor.

During that primary, voters also had to choose the supervisor race or select the sheriff’s race between Carl Van Wert and Tilman Crutchfield.

Mr. Frederick won by about 80 votes.

“I think Republicans will vote Republican, Democrats will pick Democrats and it’s up to the independents to decide which side they want to be on,” he said.

All of the races, Mr. Frederick said, are important races. Voters will just have to select which one means the most.

“It will be up to voters to see if they want to weigh in on the sheriff’s candidates or if they want to pick who is going to run Bedford for the next four years,” he said. “It’s going to be very interesting to see how this all ends up.”

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